Fireproof safe



'A No C. F. MEILINK FIREPROOF SAFE Filed Sept. 2O 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet l x: 1 i I.)

Nov. 6,1923. www? l C. F. MEILINK FIREPROOF SAFE have invented new and useful Fireproof 11 (JLCMLUSM: neuve v9 CHARLES F. MEILINK, OF TOLEDO, GEIQ.

FIREPROOF SAFE.

Application filed September 20, 1919. Serial No. 325,123.

To all who/m.y t may concern.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES F. MEILINK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio,

Safes, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to closures, especially for tire-proof safes.

This invention has utility when incorporated in hinged doors and door jamb structures in connection with interlocking rib and groove means.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view ot a fireproot sate embodying` the invention herein and looking down thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the top joint between the doors and jamb on the line 1I-11, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, parts being broken away, showing how the doors swing into the jamb at the top and bottom;

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged view of the hinged side of the jamb and door;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in section of the doors as fitting together at the center;

Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary view of the doors, parts being broken away to show the locking bolts;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line vll-VH, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line V111- VHI, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 9 is a view from within of the cenn tral bolt feature between the doors.

rlhe double wall fire-proof safe of this disclosure is shown as comprising an inner sheet metal wall` 1, an outer sheet metal wall 2, having holding or anchoring bolts 3 through insulating packing e to connect endless angle corner members 5, 6. These inner and outer sheet metal safe walls 1, 2, have therebetween on the front or open side a. jamb 7 extending trom front corner member 5 to the inner safe wall 1 to which it is braced by s-trut 8 and anchored by channel member short sections 9. Hinges 10 fastened to the corner angle frame portions 5 may swing doors 11, 12, of this double door structure, into the closure bounded by the janib 7 for completing the closing of the sate for tire-proof protection. A spindle 13 for a combination lock 14 may release bolt 15 for being thrown by a handle 16. rl`he pair of double doors 11, 12, may be filled with packing 4 as is the space between the double walls of the sate proper.

lntermediate or medial of the extent of the jainb 7 there is provided a groove having an inner outwardly open wall 17 and an outer under-cut wall 18. 1n the groove or recesses of this jamb 7, there are provided packing strips 19, 20, 21. The strips 19, 20, torni ledge regions from which extend the risers or intermediate wall portions of the jamb.

On the hinged side the doors are provided with ribs 22, swingable into the groove to have the outer straight side come into close position to the under-cut side 18 of the under-cut groove. The door, near the inner end of the longer straight side 23 of the door rib 22, has a recess for a packing strip 2a. Accordingly, with the door swung into closed position, the two ends of this longer side 23 of the rib 22 are ei'ectively packed by strip 24 coacting with the outer end of the inner straight wall 17 of the jamb groove, while the terminus of the side 23 adjacent the end of the rib 22 abuts packing 20 in the under-cut groove of the door jamb. rThere is accordingly formed by these two packings an intermediate air chamber 25. A pair of recesses, one on each side ot the rib 22 ot' the door, may respectively carry packing strips 26, 27, spaced adjacent packing strips 19, 21, of the jamb so there are three pairs of packing strips between the door and the jamb and the packing strips are spaced from each other in their distribution throughout the joints.

The groove formed by the walls 17, 18, of the door jamb at the top and bottom, (Fig. 2) has a packing strip 28 located more out of the undercut than the packing strip 20 in the hinged side of the jamb. The door 11 at the top and bottom and the door 12 at the top and bottom and side away from the hinge carry a rib 29 which in closed posi-tion swings adjacent the straight side 17 of the amb groove and into contact with the packing 28. Accordingly, along the top and bottom, the intertting between the door and j amb results in a major air chamber 30 along the under-cut portion of the grooves 17, 18, and adjacent the straight side 17 with a minor air chamber 31 between the packing strips 24 and 28.

The door 11 on its side away from the hinge 10, instead of having its jamb equivalent portion provided with an undercut side corresponding to the side 18 of the groove 17, 18, has a straight side 32 (Fig. 5) opposing the straight side 17 so that the rib 29 of the door 12 may there enter for interfitting in a manner similar to the interfitting at the top and bottom.

The operation of this structure as a fireproof safe has exceptional advantages due to the arrangement of the packing air chambers and interlocking rib and groove struc` tures. In subjecting to excessive laboratory tests in heating, the metal portions, due to their conductivity, warm up quicker and expand quicker than the metalless or packed portions of the structure or portions of the structure where there is packing to seemingly stop conductivity or dissipate radiation. The walls are light, but of great strength and preferably or cold rolled steel. As to the jamb and door frame structure, the jamb being of uniform contour throughout, it makes a very desirable j amb for the door. The peculiar design of rib on the door insures a proper interlocking therebetween which is tightened upon heating up of the structure. The interlock precludes an outward bulging at the hinge, while the bolts prevent outward bulging near the center. Upon heating up, the metal in the region of the jamb and interfitting door has heat conducted in it more rapidly than in the adjacent portions with a tendency to swing possibly on a radius a little larger than the radius of the hinge. This binds or moves the side 23 against the side 17 causing the packing strip 24 to seal most effectively such side of the air chamber 25. The rib 22 in warming up swells and expands to bind closely with the packing 20, so the chamber 25 is sealed as a dead air space and which most effectively traps the conduction of heat into even the region of packings 19, 26, where the expansion locking is operative but under less binding action. The strins pack l, at all times against air circulation into and out of this space and at once on heating, there is expansion of the metal to insure seal at these packed joints.

In the structure as disclosed, the air chamber, with the marginal or adjacent packing as binding, due to heat expansion, effective throughout the entire extent of the doors on all sides thereof making annular air chambers and annular interlocking for effective sealing and packing, there is full and complete locking by heat binding action against heat radiation or heat circulation and effectively deadening or checking the travel of such heat by pressing the low conductivity packing against the metal.

rlhe handle 16 on door 11 is connected to actuating lever or toggle member 33 from which extends upward link 34 for pivotal connection in slot 35 to bolt 36 mounted in sleeve 37 welded on the straight portion 38 of the door frame. Concentric wit-h the sleeve 37 is opening 39 in the door frame through which the bolt 36 may be thrust to enter opening 40 in the upper The member 33 from its opposite end as to the link 34, has link 41 extending downward for slot pivot connection to lower bolt 36 mounted similarly to the upper bolt 36 for action simultaneously therewith.

The upper' link 34 has bracket 42 carrying U-member 43 reciprocable simultaneously with the bolts 36 in a guide 44 welded to the straight portion 38 of the door 11 on the inside thereof, remote from its hinge 10. Accordingly, when the bolts 36 are thrown, the member 43 slides in the guide 44 to clear hole 45 so bolt 36 in the sleeve 37 on the inner side of the straight portion 38 of the door 12 remote from its hinge 10, may be operated from the handle 16 on the door 12 through the lower arm of actuating lever or toggle member 46 having pivotal connection therewith.

In the upper arm of the toggle member 46 is pivot pin 47 engaging in slot 48 of upwardly extending lever 49 and in slot 50 of downwardly extending lever 51. These levers 49, 51, have fixed pivot bearings 52 in brackets 53 of the door 12. 'Ihe ends of the levers 49, 51, remote from the member 46 have slots 54 engaging pins 55 in slots 35 of bolts 36 reciprocable in sleeves 37 hori` zontally through openings 39, of the door 12 into registering openings 40 of the door 11, when the doors 11, 12, are closed and the bolts of the door 11 are first thrown to slide the member 43 from the line of travel of the central bolt 36 of the door 12.

The bolt structure is sheet or wrought metal throughout; is light and strong as well as uniform. The toggle lever systems, while readily holding the bolts thrown with a minimum strain on the lock 14, are so grouped that when open they tend to remain open. As the bolts have pivotal or link connection for common actuation, there is such freedom for individual bolt adjustment that no binding therebetween occurs. In fact, one bolt of a system may be pushed to operate the system therefrom when the door is open, confirming the nonbinding and smooth operation of the compound lever bolt throwing mechanism herein.

Accordingly, the safe may be of light structure of great rigidity of walls, to with- .stand severe usage, is suiiiciently substantial to resist building collapse shock, and automatically eective in checking the entrance of heat thereinto in a most substantial manner in a light structure, readily locked or bolted which bolts are smoothly operable against binding in normal manipulation.

Vhat is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A safe comprising inner and outer walls having a jamb therebetween including a medial under-cut groove, said jarnb having o rnpressiblempacking strips in said groove and on each side'sai'd" groove, and a door having a rib to swing into the groove and engage the groove packing strips, said door having three packing strips, each in closed position of the door, being spaced from a packing strip of the j amb.

2. A safe housing having an outer wall, an inner wall, an insulation lill/ing therebetween, said housngnhavingwan opening, a jamb for the opening connecting between the outer and inner walls of the housing with the dinsulationrilling... thereagainst, a doorfor the opening having outer and inner walls, an insulation illingithelebetween, and a frambetw'the outer and inner walls of t-he door with the insulation filling thereagainst, said jamb and door frame being of sheet meta-l and provided with endless groove and rib interfitting portions, the grooves of the amb opening outwardly, and a packingstrip in a grooved portion to be engfed by a rib portion in coacting with the iller portions upon the opposite sides of the jamb and door frame in retarding heat conductivity into the housing.

3. A safe housing having an outer wall, an inner wall, an insulation filling therebetween, said housing having an opening, a groove and rib providing jamb for the opening connecting between the outer and inner walls of the housing with the insulation illing thereagainst, a door for the opening having outer and inner walls, an insulation filling therebetween, a groove and rib providing frame between the outer and inner walls of the door with the insulation filling thereagainst, said jamb and door frame being of sheet metal, and packing strips in a groove portion of the jamb and of the door frame to be engaged by rib portions of the door frame and the jamb to provide an air chamber in eoacting with the filler portions upon the opposite sides of the j amb and door frame in retarding heat conductivity into the housing.

4. A safe having an annular jamb including an under-cut groove, a door for the j amb having an inwardly extending rib on the side away from the hinge for entering the under-cut groove to leave an air chamber at the under-cut, and said door adjacent the hinge having a rib swingable into the under-cut portion of the under-cut groove to leave an air chamber away from the undercut.

5. A double door safe having a jamb including an endless medial groove having an inner outwardly open side and an outer under-cut side, and a pair of doors having ribs swingable into the outer under-cut side of the gro-ove adjacent the hinge side of the door and swingable into the outwardly open side of the groove away from the hinge side of the door.

6. A double door safe having a uniform contour amb including a medial groove having an inner outwardly open side and an outer under-cut side, a paippfvdpprs having ribs swingable into the outer undef-dut side of the groove adjacent the hinge side of the door and swingable into the outwardly open side or' the groove away from the hinge side of the door, and packingmstrips carried by the jarnb and door to form an air chamber in the region of the outwardly open side ot the jamb groove on the hinge side of the door and an air chamber in the region of the under-cut outer side of the groove away, from the hinge side of the door.

7. A safe door provided with a frame, inner and outer walls between which walls the frame is provided with ledges, and'risers between the ledges, said ledges and risers forming steps, there beingmal ,hnlemipr a loglgingbolt, said liole being through said frame in a riser as to one of the steps of the frame, a sleeve for the `bolt anchored to the door frame adjacent said hole, a safe having an opening providing a wal-l parallel to the door frame wall, and having a/bolt-receiving recess for registering with the door frame hole.

8. A safe door provided with a frame, inner and outer walls between which walls the frame is provided with ledges, and risers between the ledges, said ledges and risers forming steps, there being a hole for a locking bolt, said hole being through said frame in a riser as to one of the steps of the frame, a sleeve for the bolt continuous from the hole anchored to the door frame adjacent said hole, a safe having an opening providing a wall parallel to the door frame wall, and having a bolt receiving recess for registering with the door frame hole.

9. A sheet metal safe housing of double l?) wx walled structure provided with an opening having a jamb, a door therefor having a frame stepped to provide parallel ribs curved in cross-section-and hollow, packing between the ribs to be engaged by the j amb, and @Sltinafillggwfor the housing and door nand entendin nto the hollow ribs, said ribs being inNanlrmseres"and facing outwardly of the opening.

10. A sheet metal safe housing of double Walled structure provided With' anv opening having a jamb stepped to provide parallel grooves curved in cross-section and forming ribs on the reverse side of said jamb, a door, packing means in the grooves to be engaged by the door, and an insulation filler for the housing and door and extending about said grooves, said grooves being in annular series and facing outwardly of the opening.

11. A double Wall safe door jamb having a groove, a hinge, a door mounted by the hinge to form a joint With said jamb, said door having a projecting rib, one side of Which is svvingable as the door moves on the hinge to provide a single side opposing the opening of said groove, the free end of said rib being spaced from the groove to form with said groove an air chamber in said joint for retarding heat flow, and insulation in said door and in the safe as housed by the jamb to supplement the retarding of heat flow as held back by said air chamber.

12. A double Wall safe door jamb having an under cut groove, a hinge, a door connected to the safe by said hinge to form a joint with said jamb, said door having a rib movable as the door closes to isolate said groove having the free end of the rib spaced from the groove to form an air chamber in said joint for retarding heat flow, and insulation. in said door and` in the safe as housed by the jamb to supplement the retarding of heat flow as held back by said air chamber.

13. A safe opening provided with a door forming a joint with said opening, said door having a stepped frame, said safe having a stepped jamb, one of which is provided with a groove and the other with a rib side coacting in closed position of the door for isolating the groove having the free end of the rib spaced from the groove to form an air chamber in said joint for retardng heat flow, and insulation in said door and in the safe as housed by the jamb to supplement the retarding of heat flow as held back by said air chamber.

14. A safe opening provided with a door forming a joint with said opening, said door having a stepped uniform thickness frame,

said safe having a stepped uniform thickness jamb, one of Which is provided With a groove and the other with a rib side coacting in closed position of the door for isolating the groove. having the free end of the rib spaced from the groove to form an air chamber in said joint for retarding heat flow, and insulation in said door and in the safe to supplement the retarding of heat flow as held back by said air chamber.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES F. MEILINK. 

